The Syrian regime and, in particular, the Assad clan, has managed to not only survive the Arab uprisings (unlike those in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Yemen) but also incrementally recover lost territory, while retaining its authority over state institutions and diplomatic missions outside of the country. Syria's foreign policy, as developed under former president Hafez al-Assad, has effectively enabled the current regime's survival.

Neil Quilliam examines how Syria, a country that operates at the margins of the international political system, has been able to project its power beyond its size and capability by leveraging relations with key states that typically oppose US policy in the region. He shows how Syria's relations with its major partners, including Russia and China, and regional actors, like Iran, are key to sustaining the regime and securing its survival. But, as Quilliam, argues, this has come at a price. By effectively mortgaging the state to Russia and Iran, Bashar al-Assad has severely limited his margin for manoeuvre in the future. The book offers an insightful and balanced analysis of both the continuity and change within the Syrian state and the threat it poses in both its regional context as well as the continued problem it poses for the international community.